National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) U-turns on Novartis AG's Lucentis for Diabetic Macular Oedema

Diabetic macular oedema (DMO) can now be treated with ranibizumab (Lucentis, Novartis) after the treatment was recommended by NICE. The watchdog originally published guidance in November last year but after the manufacturer produced evidence of the drug effectively treating patients with DMO, NICE agreed to look at it again. NICE now says ranibizumab should be considered as a potential treatment for people with DMO who have a central retinal thickness of 400 micrometres or more. The recommendation also relies on the manufacturer supplying the drug at a discounted price, as agreed when it submitted a revised patient access scheme earlier this year.